Intermittent versus continuous enteral nutrition on feeding intolerance in critically ill adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Enteral formula delivery strategy is an important part of enteral nutrition. We aimed to synthesize up-to-date studies to clarify the effects of intermittent versus continuous feeding on feeding intolerance during enteral nutrition in critically ill adults. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Embase, PubMed, Information Sciences Institute Web of Science, CINAHL EBSCO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched from inception to 17th of June 2020. The Cochrane “risk of bias” tool was used to assess the quality of individual studies, and the quality of each outcome was assessed by GRADE approach. Fixed or random effect meta-analysis was used pending the presence of heterogeneity. Dichotomous data synthesis was presented as risk ratio and 95% confidence interval, and quantitative data synthesis was shown as mean difference and 95% confidence interval. Fourteen trials with 1025 critically ill adults were included in the meta-analysis. We found that intermittent feeding could significantly increase the occurrence of feeding intolerance (risk ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval = 1.23 to 2.18, P < 0.001) compared with continuous feeding, as well as the incidence of high gastric volume (risk ratio = 3.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.43–9.12, P = 0.006) and aspiration (risk ratio = 3.29, 95% confidence interval = 1.18–9.16, P = 0.02) in > 1-week trial duration, while constipation rate was reduced in intermittent feeding group (risk ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval = 0.45–0.98, P = 0.04). Patients in intermittent feeding group received more calories compared with continuous feeding group (mean difference = 184.81, 95% confidence interval = 56.61–313.01, P = 0.005). The quality of all evidence synthesis was “low” or “very low”. In critically ill adults, continuous feeding was associated with lower overall incidence of feeding intolerance, especially in high gastric volume and aspiration. However, decreased constipation incidence and more calorie intake were observed in intermittent feeding group. Because quality of the synthesized evidence was “low” or “very low”, there is considerable uncertainty about this estimate.